After a sleepless night of grief and study, Shallan reviews Jasnah’s research and agrees with her conclusion: the Voidbringers are the parshmen. Jasnah underscores the peril, noting parshmen’s deep integration across Roshar and historical patterns of sudden, devastating transformations like the Desolations. Reports of Parshendi coordination suggest a connected consciousness, magnifying the threat.

Shallan grasps the potential collapse if parshmen turn on their masters. Jasnah insists they need more evidence and context than Kharbranth can provide, including puzzling accounts of stone beasts fighting with parshmen. When pressed about commitment, Shallan chooses the larger cause despite worry for her brothers, resolving to find another way to help her family.

Jasnah then accelerates their plans: they will leave the next day on the ship Jasnah chartered, not to Jah Keved, but to the Shattered Plains. Their goal is to learn whether the Parshendi were once ordinary parshmen and what triggered their change—ideally discovering this before others weaponize it.

Finally, Jasnah reveals that rivals are already hunting these secrets. The recent assassination attempt targeted her on behalf of the Ghostbloods; Kabsal was one of them, evidenced by a tattoo of three interlocked diamonds. Seeing the symbol, Shallan recognizes it from Luesh and other men tied to her family and the Soulcaster, leading her to suspect her father was a Ghostblood.